As we approach what I view as the most solemn holiday of the year, I want to take the time to remind everyone of the true importance of Memorial Day. It isn’t about retail sales or an excuse for a three-day weekend. Memorial Day pays tribute to those who served and never returned home.
As a military dad, I know the stakes are high for the men and women who chose to serve. Unfortunately, with less than 1% of the population in the military and the total number of veterans shrinking every day as we lose more of our greatest generation of World War II veterans, the general population doesn’t see this patriotism with their own eyes or rarely knows someone who exemplifies it.
For those of us living, who have not given the last full measure of devotion, it is our responsibility and our obligation to remember and to honor these fallen Americans. Truly remembering means that after our fallen heroes gave everything to get their brothers and sisters home, we have to ensure our vets get everything that they earned, from good health care to a good job.
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We are continuing our efforts to work with other agencies and organizations to provide our veterans with whatever they need. Our Veterans Services Agency and Department of Mental Health work collaboratively with BRIDGES in West Nyack to operate the PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Veteran Peer Support program. This program provides Veteran-to-Veteran support for veterans who understand the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury.
Our Veterans Services Agency also stands ready with their highly trained and professional staff to assist veterans with finding, applying for, receiving, and maintaining veteran's benefits. We know this can be a confusing and frustrating process and the VSA works to maximize the receipt of veterans benefits while eliminating frustrations.
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We are here for our veterans but must not forget those who wrote a blank check to Uncle Sam for an amount up to and including their life. This Memorial Day we honor and mourn for the 1.3 million members of the military who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Let us never forget that while Memorial Day may be the unofficial start of summer for many, it is so only because of the sacrifice of those who fought and died preserving our freedoms.